Bat



Feb. 25, 1964 G, 5. AUGUST A 3,122,365

BAT

Filed June 11, 1962 ,3 5 2O INVENTOR.

GEORGE 5. AUGUST 'lh- H! I" BY A TTORNEYS nite States This invention relates to a bat for playing different games in which use is made of a ball, a principal object of the invention being the provision of a bat embodying novel features for testing, teaching or correcting.

An object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive bat of the above character which serves to facilitate the teaching and learning of baseball.

Another object is to provide a bat having a sensing mechanism for indicating a score relative to the proper contact of a ball with the bat.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hat of the above character which serves as a source of amusement for children and adults.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims, the manner of its organization and the mode of operation will be better understood by referring to the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bat embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view or front elevation of the bat;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the bat taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a bat which consists of a round driving body 12, and a handle 8 projecting from one end thereof. The handle is of suitable thickness adapted to fit the hand of the user and contains a butt member 6 threadedly secured thereto which can be removed for insertion of batteries 4 and 4' within chamber C located in the handle. The bat is preferably constructed from a single piece of suitable material, such as wood, metal or plastic, and may conform to any shape or outline such as those used for the purpose of playing wall ball, baseball, tennis and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bat is provided with an annular opening 16 which extends through the width of driving body 12. Adjacent opening 16 and radially assembled therein, are two pairs of diametrically opposed sensing elements 20, which project inwardly toward the center of the opening. Each of the sensing elements is pivotally mounted within opening 16 by means of pivot pin 35 which is in normal relation to the element and rests within notch 37 located in body 12. The sensing elements may be of any desired shape and constructed of any suitable material.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each sensing element 20 constitutes a contact switch which, when activated, energizes one of the indicator lamps mounted intermediate of handle 8 and driving body 12. Thus,

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when force is applied to one or more of the sensing ele ments by means of a rubber ball passing through opening 16, the sensing element is pivoted so as to provide electrical contact between electrodes 32 and the metallic plates 31 located on each of the sensing elements.

Depending upon the passage of the ball within opening 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2, a circuit can be made with any one or all of the sensing elements whereby one or more of the respective indicator lamps are lighted. Thus, for example in one commercial embodiment contemplated, a homerun would be indicated when a ball passes centrally through opening 16 and contacts each of the sensing elements 20, whereby all of the lights are energized. Similarly, a single, double or triple would be indicated when one, two or three of the lights, respectively, are lighted.

The bat having the features above-described is used in conjunction with a ball having a diameter such that it will pass through opening 16 and contact one or several of the sensing elements 20. Thus, in the embodiment of the bat shown in FIG. 3, for example, the diameter of opening 16 is six inches while the diameter of the ball is approximately three inches. of the ball and length of each sensing element, various sized openings may be used in the bat to achieve the result intended.

The ball may be constructed of plastic, wood or rubber and the rubber balls may be solid or inflated.

In the operation, the user of the bat takes a stance preparatory to batting or driving a thrown ball. The batter then takes a swing and if all of the indicator lights are energized, it is evident that the batter is meeting the ball squarely. Likewise, if less than all of the lights are energized, it is apparent that the bat is being swung improperly.

The above-described bat has been found, in operation, to be very satisfactory, not only in teaching the batter the proper swing, but also to test or determine whether a batter is going beyond permissible limits during his swing. It is particularly effective, since it does not interfere with the swing.

It is thus apparent that there has been described a bat by which the objects and advantages above-mentioned can be attained and it is to be understood that certain variations in the size and shape of the bat may be resorted to, and also that aural means, such as buzzers, may replace the visual indicator lights.

What is claimed is:

1. A baseball bat comprising a handle member with a driving body projecting therefrom and having an annular opening therein, a plurality of sensing elements radially assembled within said opening, an electric circuit connected to each of said sensing elements, and means in said circuit for indicating contact between the sensing elements and a ball passing through said opening.

2. The ball hat of claim 1 wherein the bat is constructed of a material selected from the group of wood, plastic and metal.

3. The baseball hat of claim 1 wherein separate electric circuits are provided for each of the sensing elements in which each circuit contains visual means to indicate contact between the sensing element and a ball passing through said opening.

4. A baseball bat comprising a handle member with a Depending on the diameter 3 4 driving body projecting therefrom and having an an- References Cited in the file of this patent nular opening therein, four separate sensing elements ra- UNITED STATES PATENTS dially assembled and pivotally mounted Within said open- A a ing, electric circuits separately connected to each of the Thomas Sept 1892 sensing elements, and separate indicator lamps for each 5 3,014 i Sept 1939 of said circuits including energizing means whereby one 217431929 Smlth May 1956 or more of the lamps are lighted when contact is made FOREIGN PATENTS between the sensing element and a ball passing through 11965 Great Britain Sept 7: 1911 said opening. of 1911 

1. A BASEBALL BAT COMPRISING A HANDLE MEMBER WITH A DRIVING BODY PROJECTING THEREFROM AND HAVING AN ANNULAR OPENING THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF SENSING ELEMENTS RADIALLY ASSEMBLED WITHIN SAID OPENING, AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID SENSING ELEMENTS, AND MEANS 